10 of the best ancient cave paintings

Art from the past

Some of the world's most well-known cave paintings are tens of thousands of years old. Despite humans who lived during these eras being thought of as "prehistoric" or "cavemen," many of these sketches show impressive creativity and skill.

There are no concrete, universal theories about the purpose of these ancient paintings. Did these prehistoric people have the urge to express themselves artistically? Did they want to make an historic record for future generations to see? Or were they merely trying to communicate with others who might use the caves for shelter?

Because of the protected underground environment, many cave paintings are in remarkably good shape, including Argentina's Cueva de las Manos (pictured). Unfortunately, some of the more popular caves had to be closed off to the general public because the large number of visitors had altered the conditions inside the caverns, causing paintings to fade or mold to grow.

Even so, these 10 sites offer visitors the opportunity to experience these relics of ancient human life for themselves.